[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 164 (Sunday, December 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MANAGEMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER AND THE CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENNY C. HULSHOF

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, Federal actions that 
negatively impact private property inflame the passions of farmers. 
This is certainly the case for the farmers in my district who make 
their living along the Missouri River, particularly as it relates to 
the efforts of some to create an artificial spring rise on the Missouri 
River.
  On one side, bureaucrats and fringe special interests--absent sound 
science or empirical data--want to periodically flood the lower 
Missouri River basin in the hopes of helping the endangered pallid 
sturgeon spawn. On the other side, concerned farmers, river 
stakeholders, Missouri's congressional delegation, Governor Matt 
Blunt--just to name a few--understand that increasing river flows above 
the normal river levels during a volatile time of year--one in which 
farmers are most vulnerable--will cause flooding of adjacent farmland, 
infrastructure and even entire communities. Those of us on this side of 
the debate know that only sound science should be used as a basis for 
our river policy, and actions meant to help wildlife--especially 
actions that lack scientific merit--should not take precedence over the 
needs of the people who live and work along the river.
  Despite this, the Army Corps of Engineers was compelled to include 
two artificial spring rises in their 2006 operating plan for the 
Missouri River. While the broad coalition that opposes this misguided 
spring rise fully intends to continue fighting implementation of these 
unproven and scientifically questionable spring rises, I want to make 
the House aware of an issue that we will need to address, should the 
Corps move forward with spring rises in 2006.
  For years now, those of us opposed to a spring rise made the 
commonsense assumption that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk 
Management Agency would serve as a safety net for those adversely 
affected by the spring rise, providing crop insurance coverage to those 
harmed by government-induced flooding, such as a spring rise on the 
Missouri River.
  Apparently, it is the opinion of some that this is not the case. Just 
this week, the Risk Management Agency administrator stated in a letter 
dated December 15, 2005, that the Risk Management Agency ``is 
prohibited by law from covering crop losses due to a government 
sanction release of water by the Corps because it does not qualify as a 
naturally occurring event.''
  To me, and to those I represent who live along the river, this policy 
defies logic. Common sense and basic fairness dictate that crop 
insurance should cover flood damages caused by a spring rise. From the 
perspective of a farmer, it adds insult to injury for the Federal 
Government to cause a flood and then refuse to cover crop insurance 
damages associated with the Government's actions.
  I'm not asking for a handout, nor are my constituents. What I am 
seeking is a flood insurance policy relating to a spring rise that is 
consistent with the Risk Management Agency's stated mission, to 
``promote, support, and regulate sound risk management solutions to 
preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America's 
agricultural producers'' and to ``provide crop insurance to American 
producers.''
  Over the coming weeks and months, I will be working with some of my 
colleagues, like my friends Representative Skelton and Senator Talent 
to find the best, most efficient solution to this obvious problem. In 
this effort, I look forward to working with the administration and the 
committees of jurisdiction in Congress to remedy this situation. 
Likewise, I fully intend to continue working with like-minded 
stakeholders and elected officials to stop the flawed spring rise that 
will cause unnecessary flooding and damage for those along the Missouri 
River.

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